“Defender’s of Wildlife,” a non-profit organization, has issued the following information about aerial gunning of wolves in Idaho:
“In one of its first moves since retaking the reins of wolf management, Idaho officials last week called in Wildlife Services — the federal government’s chief wildlife-killing agency — to kill wolves in the central part of the state.
Federal marksmen took to the skies in Idaho’s Lolo wilderness, targeting up to 60 wolves to help artificially boost game populations in the region.
Using radio collars to track down wolf packs in the area, the airborne marksmen only managed to kill five wolves. The mission was quickly abandoned, described as both inefficient and expensive by the Wildlife Services agents themselves.
But that’s not stopping Idaho’s plan to kill dozens of wolves in the region to artificially boost elk populations. Wildlife Services could continue gunning from the skies and trapping on the ground.
Wildlife Services is a program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their mission is to “create a balance that allows people and wildlife to coexist peacefully.” Idaho officials claim that wolves are a major cause of elk declines in certain parts of the state. But the science says otherwise: In 23 of 29 elk management zones, populations of these animals are at or above targets. In fact, many of the areas experiencing declines contain few or no wolves.
And the Clearwater National Forest — an area targeted by Wildlife Services’ aerial gunning plan — was experiencing steep declines in elk numbers in 1988, well before wolves returned to the area.
Science tells us that predator populations are naturally maintained by their prey population levels — almost never the other way around. But Wildlife Services’ plan kills wolves for doing what they do naturally: Preying on elk and fulfilling their ecological role in a natural system.
But instead, they have become the federal government’s de facto wildlife hitmen — heavily relying on killing wildlife rather than using proven, effective non-lethal methods of control.
Now, it seems, Wildlife Services has gotten into the business of killing wolves to artificially boost elk populations.”
Help stop Wildlife Services’ terrible wolf-killing operation to artificially boost elk populations in Idaho by visiting this link and signing a petition!
(http://action.defenders.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=67181.0&printer_friendly=1) **Please encourage others to petition against the aerial gunning of wolves!
The Wolf Preservation Blog 
Having vacationed several times in Montana and Idaho, I never will again after what’s been done. Any political entity that blatently ignores an entire segment of the population, and abuses a trust, can not be trusted in other matters of civilization, and personal importance. These actions of politicians send a message; we will return the favor. Revenue from tourism is unimportant. We’ll keep our part of that. Environmental responsibility is unimportant. We will use our voices to raise awareness of issues, and discourage everyone we know from spending any tourist money in that state or Idaho. It seems to be money that has the voice; very well, we will boycott all things Montanan and from Idaho. We will no longer be purchasing beef, and I we will make sure this is forwarded to everyone we know. Since greed is the the problem, then let anti-greed be the solution. That is our voice. Representatives aren’t listening to anything else, it seems, other than personal agendas. Let’s see if loss of revenue is something they can hear. Call the Cattleman’s Association and let them also know why you won’t be buying beef. And let your politicians know they’ve lost your support in the upcoming elections. Republicans and Democrats are equally guilty in the slaughter of wolves. Anyone who voted yes on the wolf rider bill is guilty, and I don’t see any difference between the parties. Their agendas appear to be the same. I’m including representatives, senators, and all politicians who had a hand in this.
5 wolves is too many. Lets see how much of taxpayers money they can blow flying around. Maybe they should think about how many tags they give these killers. Too many tags & not letting the elk, deer, etc population recover from the season before. Also how many die from disease, weather, age, etc?? Dianna, I am extremely disappointed in my home state, of Montana, & the ‘snakes in the grass politicians’, like Testes, Schweitzer, Baucus etc. I wouldn’t buy anything from here either. It makes me sick the underhanded things that have been done. I have seen things about how they butcher cattle & screw that up, heard horror stories of hunters missing elk, deer etc & lose the “meat.” Wolves can NOT be eaten, so no one should say it’s for food. Unless your some sick Korean that will eat even dogs. BTW which are closely related to wolves. Would they kill their own dogs? I am trying to save wolves but I feel like a minority that’s losing an uphill battle. Is not only think this has been done for money, greed, but for votes or political gain. There are no words to say how sick they are & other words that can’t be posted. May the wolves always win. Pray to God that the wolves avoid danger & always, always survive time. There’s no coming back from extinction. May something/someone hunt the hunters. JB
Growing up in Idaho there was no worry about wolves and we hunted without fear.. Now there are so many of them they are eating our elk and stalk the hunters. Somethings got to give. Thinning out the population is the best way. Keep it up
Hi HNR338,
What do you mean by “stalk” the hunters? Many people claim to be stalked by wolves when its simply curiosity and innate fear in people (red riding hood effect). While wolves can be a contributing factor in certain areas to elk decline, there are several other factors: hunting, habitat loss, black bears, harsh weathers, and disease. Justin Timberlake, Northern Rockies Associate and big game hunter, points to the fact that the elk decline started long before wolves were introduced. He doesn’t doubt that wolves are part of the overall issue, but he believes the continued poor habitat plays a much larger role.
“Just pointing to wolves and saying they’re responsible for all the decline and using it as an excuse to reduce numbers is not the best scientific approach,” he said. “It doesn’t give the whole picture.” Wolves do change the way elk behave, forcing them to act more wild, alert, and keep on the move more frequently (which allows the landscape to recover from overgrazing by elk, in turn helping other species as habitat improves). Due to this behavior change, it may make it harder for elk to be hunted. If big game animals are in such a decline, why does sport hunting continue? Aerial gunning violates the fair chase ethic and is a barbaric, harrassing practice. For most hunters, the concept of fair chase is the cornerstone of hunting ethics. What kind of facts to you have to support your claims?
@ HNR338- where’s yer brain? Busy in fantasy land making up stories & fearing of being stalked by wolves. They’re checking you out = curiosity & they are fearful of you. You are the one with the GUN.
What’s got to give . . . may be for you! HNR 338! SHAME . . . I can not believe this has been sanctioned and allowed by any humane person and that the American taxpayer’s are made to pay for it! First we annihilated the Native American Indians from their homes on the plains and the west, in the name of Manifest Destiny, and now we think we have the right to do this to any and all the wild animals that live a natural life, as they were intended to!
As a taxpayer, and someone who believes we have NO right to play god with the lives of these wild wolves, I protest this action and request it be stopped immediately, especially when these actions are only to enhance hunting by man, or cattle ranchers! How much subsidized federal land is used by the cattle ranchers that want these wolves killed? Let’s take away their honey money! Lets show them that life is going to get tougher for them too!